The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-01-13

IT is deemed unnecessary to review them here
in detail You will have the reports before you,
act into law such suggestions Contained in them
as may be calculated to In legitimate way
ameliorate and advance the condition Of the
laboring classes Of the State.
II is with great qualification that you are re.
minded that while they have had riots and
bloodshed in other States, we have been spared
This is due to the good sense and the patri-
otto desire OF our people to serve md uphold the
such acceptable and praiseworthy conduct,
under such circumstances as have obtained re-
quires ut your hands o patient hearing and con-
be made, to tho end that our legislation on this
progress Of civilization and the wants Of en-.
The benevolent institutions are in very salts
factory condition. 1t has been found necessary
The vear The saversi rennrts ~ me trstess
and various officials Of these institutions are
submitted herewith. They are so complete as
desired.
Your attention 1. called particularly, however,
John w. Andrews and Hon. r. Brinkcrhofi, act.
Ing % % BY rsSe
institutions from the pressure Of party politics"
These gentlemen have been long Identified with
had much experience and great opportunity for
fied to speak on Tits sub ie%ct % ss any gentlemen
Their discussion is therefore entitled TO the
most respectful consideration You will find
that they have clearly set forth their views and
the management Of the benevolent institutions
out OF politics Is fully endorsed.
They have no relation whatever to any Of the
political differences. Party divisions are never
rofVn Nvtf Rnfn fN thavx I1<,ta rnvSc
tration Is expected to be Of the same general
character at all times. They are, therefore,
capable Of being put out Of politics as, on &C.
count OF their character they should be.
The first question is then, whether their man
agement shall be political or non political. Here
viii be
which 1t shall be. During late years there has
been compromising policy pursued. The prac-
of members-gencrally five-and to have o mi
nority representation Of the party not in power
Of two members. These are called mixed
boards and there are many who seem to think
good results have been secured in this way
This is largely mistake. The good results
men who have held these positions r Of trust t. 'He
So far as the mixed feature Of the politics
OF the board is concerned, 1t is almost, II not
bad public service. In almost every instance
OF mismanagement or mishap of any kind in the
conduct OF any OF the public institutions when
managed by boards of this character the minor
ity trustees have excused and defended them
selves on the ground that they and their party
were not in power and therefore not respon-
siDle; and the majority trustees have taken
refuge behind the minority and put forth the
defense that the other party was equally at
fault because @ their REPRESENTATIVES had partici,
given when the recent unfortunate management
OF the penitentiary was called to account. So
impressive an experience should not be soon
forgotten.
A careful study of this matter has resulted in
these conclusions:
bap frs
dependent Of political changes in State govern
ment.
3 They have no relation to political issues or
differences, and may, therefore, with propriety
B. Minority representation in mixed boards do
ns se T
are obtained they will hide behind the minority,
who will plead want OF responsibility.
4. The best system is nor. partisan control. in
which neither party will have q majority, but
both Will have equal representation and equal
s. This control should not be by independent
boards, but by one board Of four or six men,
bers to govern all the institutions of the State.
8. The Governor should appoint all the super
intendcnts Of these institutions, subject to
approval by this board; and the superintendent
ea 81 should subject to the same
The appointing power should also have the
power Of removal, subject to the approval Of
Z. The Governor should be ex-offcio mem
ber with power to give deciding vote in all
| cases OF equal division.
secure an equal representation Of both parties.
No Governor or superintendent could, IL he de-
sired, unduly favor his own party In the ap-
pointments to be made, since all must be con-
| frmed by o majority vote, and hence neces-
| sariy by the vote Of his political opponents as
cure more aid from the trustees than is snow now af
| forded to the superintendents In the manage
ment.
qualified and highly honorable men in the vari
GUS boards. But their duties rarely call them
to their respective institutions oftener than once
o month. Their visits are generally hurried.
| They have but little time to study the wants OF
the institution while there. Their time, when
away, is devoted to their own affairs. The con
sequence Is that they necessarily leave the
management very largely to the superinten-
| dent. Fortunately, our superintendents are all
men Of high character and fitness for the posi-
tions they hold and consequently, as matters
now stand, no harm is likely to result from this
practice.
But 1t would be safer and better, If you make
| o change, to guard against any danger on this
account. The plan recommended would do this.
| The concentration of the management Of all
state the constant attention of the members
to their duties. The discharge Of these duties
would practically become their chief occu-
patton They would be constantly in COM
munication with, and In attendance upon,
| these institution. They would shortly become
entirely familiar with all their details, and by
counselors and efficient assistants to the local
officials.
The objection may bo made that the members
Of such o board would have to be paid salary.
That does not necessarily follow. But II that be
requisite, the objection is not serious one
Reasonable salaries would be scarcely more
| expensive, II at oil, than the present system
| under which the State pays the expenses OF all
the many members Of the many boards. But
without regard TO how that may be, the State
| can well afford to pay whatever may be neces-
| sary to secure the most efficient services that
can be commanded. We have spent many mill
ions OF dollars to erect our institutions, and ex-
pend annually nearly $2 OOo, 900 to msintain them
Such important interests should be m Snaged and
| cared for by the most capable talent and &C.
| cording to the most approved business methods:
1t is recommended, therefore, that IL you should
| conclude to adopt the non partisan system Of
governing our benevolent Institutions, you place
| the government Of oil under one common board,
| such as has been indicated.
You might with proprlety confer these powers
| upon the Board Of State Charities, The mem
bers Of this Board represent both parties equally
| and are men OF high character already familiar
with the work 20 which they would thus be
called
Hyou see fit to make change from the present
| system, and do not adopt the recommendation
made, then there should be q non partisan board
OF either four or six members for each fnstitu-
| tion, with the superintendent empowered to vote
in all cases Of equal division, since 1t would be
| impossible for the Governor to discharge such y
duty In connection with SO many boards.
1t will be noticed that what has been said re-
lates only to the benevolent institutions. The
recommendations of the Board of State Chari-
ties include the penal institutions also. The
| principle OF non-partisan management for the
benevolent institutions Is approved for the
| reason, among others, that not being identified
with political issues questions, it is both prac
| ticable and proper.
| In SO far as the same reason obtains, like ap-
proval might be given for the penal institutions.
Ilsxtt fntl1